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Enough Is Enough

Miguel Batista has kind of slogged his way through the 2009 season as the outcast in the room. He’s not happy working as a middle reliever, yet due to his salary, there was no way the M’s would be able to move him to a team who wanted to use him in a different role. So, as an aging, overpaid guy, the M’s have just put him in the innings-eater role, bringing him in when they just need someone to save the arms they actually care about. For the first few months, he did that inoffensively enough, though he was intolerable to watch, as always.

With just six weeks left in the season, the M’s have no more use for Batista. They’re not getting any value out of using him. He won’t be here next year. He’s absolutely painful to watch, so he’s not helping the fans get any enjoyment out of the team. He’s just taking up space, and it’s time to say goodbye.

Justin Speier, just released by the Angels yesterday, would love Safeco Field, where his home run problem would be somewhat limited. You could give him Batista’s spot immediately and make a nice little upgrade, while also finding a guy who you might want back next year. Or, you know, just promote Randy Messenger or something. Anything’s better than watching Miguel Batista anymore.

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Comments

39 Responses to “Enough Is Enough”

Hud67 on
August 12th, 2009 10:40 am

I agree Dave. Just outright release him. I say promote someone and give them some experience for the rest of the year.

mlathrop3 on
August 12th, 2009 10:41 am

As I said last night, watching Batista pitch is like watching “The Happening”. Disturbingly amusing career suicide.

Anyway, the two things that baffled me about last night’s game were Sweeney hitting fourth (AGAIN! ARGH! STOP IT ALREADY!) and bringing in Batista to pitch in a one-run game. He’s the kind you use in blowouts, the innings eater as stated above. I didn’t realize this was the last year of his contract. If so, then yeah, let’s just free up the roster spot for somebody else. Maybe he’ll turn into a 1995 Norm Charlton for some contender. But for us, we need to move on.

mlathrop3 on
August 12th, 2009 10:55 am

To his defense, releasing Batista would give him more time to continue his stellar charity work in his home country.

Shrike on
August 12th, 2009 11:03 am

[ot]

ThundaPC on
August 12th, 2009 11:13 am

What gets me is that the organization doesn’t appear to be thrilled with having Batista around. About Batista’s outing before last night Wak noted that it was “not what we’re looking for”.

Time for Miguel to go.

Jackington VI on
August 12th, 2009 11:17 am

Watching the game last night, as soon as Mark Lowe started to warm up I noticed Batista really slowed everything down, even more so for him. Look backs to first, pick-off throws, stepping off the mound, etc. He essentially allowed Lowe to warm up in the time it took him to walk his third batter. Whether it was a conscious effort or not, I don’t know, but if it was, that portends to me that Batista didn’t want to be pitching out there anymore than we did.

gregry17 on
August 12th, 2009 11:18 am

You learn from the time your 4 years old that WALKs cannot be defended. His defiant character fits well with someone like …. well, hmmmmm…
He needs an attitude adjustment. Cut him.

mw3 on
August 12th, 2009 11:23 am

He is truly awful. I say kill two birds with one stone though, Vargas is starting in AAA when I thought they were trying to limit his innings how about putting him in the bullpen.

Dennisss on
August 12th, 2009 11:26 am

I’m all for it. I still bristle a little when someone says Griffey sucks. Miguel Batista sucks. This is what “sucks” means. And if you are going to use him in high-leverage situations, cut him just to protect you from yourself.

mironos on
August 12th, 2009 12:04 pm

This is just what I was yelling at the TV last night. Only, you know, less coherently and more angrily.

*I* could go in and walk people. And I could work at a quicker pace while I was at it.

Let’s clear out one more of the remaining Bavasi-fiascos and get moving forward.

SonOfZavaras on
August 12th, 2009 12:07 pm

I agree. Batista’s toast-ada. Cut him, eat the money or trade him for a song, maybe a dance re-mix.

And BTW, [ot]

TranquilPsychosis on
August 12th, 2009 12:08 pm

Iâ€™m all for it. I still bristle a little when someone says Griffey sucks. Miguel Batista sucks

There are reasons for everything. Griffey sucks because he’s 39 and his body just can’t do it anymore.

Whereas Batista,and Silva too for that matter, suck (just like they always have) because they just can’t bleeping pitch.

I’m extremely biased because there are non-baseball reasons why I’m not a fan of Beluga.

There’s no point whatsoever for him to be on this team, and his departure can’t happen soon enough for me.

There are so many options it’s ridiculous. I’m about to start a collection to gather the pro-rated salary of his replacement so we can eliminate all possible barriers…

adamt on
August 12th, 2009 12:18 pm

I was surprised we didn’t cut him after that Cleveland series. The team has dome a good job at letting us forget Silva is on the roster. It’s time to do the same with Batista – or cut him – I prefer the latter.

Soonerman22 on
August 12th, 2009 12:37 pm

Before the trading deadline I would root, hope, pray that he would do good when he came in so we could trade him and get something, anything for him!

Now the deadline has passed. You arenâ€™t going to get anything for him (other then turrets *F-ing Bavasi*) I am sure they could take a collection at Safeco or even USS Mariner to pay the rest of his contract and make him go away. I had to go to Safeco and watch him pitch against Cleveland and give up 4 runs on 10 pitches. 4 RUNS ON 10 PITCHES!!! It is time for him to go!

The most telling sign of how far a player has fallen is when you cut him and no one signs them. (Vidro, Sexson got signed and played for a couple weeks.)

fret_24 on
August 12th, 2009 12:40 pm

SonOfZavaras,

Hardy wasn’t DFA, he was optioned to AAA. While this may be the beginning of a new era for the Brewers at SS. I doubt this lowers Hardy’s value given the demand at the position throughout the league.

Batista was painful again last night. His appearance was only made slightly more watchable by the fantastic play of Wilson. I love him.

Chris_From_Bothell on
August 12th, 2009 12:51 pm

If Moyer didn’t have another year on his contract, I’d propose swapping “disgruntled former starting pitchers with one ring and a lot of miles who are now middle relievers and hating it” with Philly.

2 more weeks and the roster expand, so Batista won’t be eating up space for too much longer one way or the other.

And if you are going to use him in high-leverage situations, cut him just to protect you from yourself.

Memo to Zduriencik: Apply this logic to Mike Sweeney, please. Winning builds character. We’ll do more of it with him off the roster. Problem solved.

It would be one thing if this team was 10 games out with absolutely not chance to succeed… but they’re not. They’re only 5.5 games out of a playoff spot. I know it’s still unlikely given the number of teams ahead of them, but it will still make for an exciting last month of the season if the team is still this close going into the last month.

Excitement=$$$$$

Don’t go into 2010 on a sour note.

mw3 on
August 12th, 2009 1:12 pm

The interesting thing about Hardy being optioned is that it may push his free agency back to 2011, making him a much more valuable trade piece.

And Batista is a steaming pile of …

Breadbaker on
August 12th, 2009 1:22 pm

Theory of sunk costs, writ large.

TranquilPsychosis on
August 12th, 2009 1:35 pm

If Moyer didnâ€™t have another year on his contract, Iâ€™d propose swapping â€œdisgruntled former starting pitchers with one ring and a lot of miles who are now middle relievers and hating itâ€ with Philly.

Moyer is also making $6.5 million this year as opposed to $9.5 million for Batista. I’m fairly sure Philly would not make that trade.

Moyer is also making $6.5 million this year as opposed to $9.5 million for Batista. Iâ€™m fairly sure Philly would not make that trade.

But Moyer has a year to go, and Batista is done at the end of the season.

I don’t think Seattle would do that trade.

TranquilPsychosis on
August 12th, 2009 4:23 pm

But Moyer has a year to go, and Batista is done at the end of the season.

I donâ€™t think Seattle would do that trade.

I don’t think so either. At the same time, I wouldn’t mind seeing him back here next year. Unless his age has finally caught up with him that is. He’s great with the younger pitchers and could teach all the young guns quite a bit about pitching and his work ethic is beyond reproach.

Breadbaker on
August 12th, 2009 4:23 pm

Absolutely the last thing I’d do to replace Miguel Batista is sign Jamie Moyer, even for free. We need to be looking at pieces of the puzzle for 2010 and 2011, not 1996 and 1997.

adamt on
August 12th, 2009 4:25 pm

I was going to ask about Silva when time expired. Thatâ€™s really a more interesting question. The guy has simply become a non-person with an unspecified injury.

I’d be curious what the plan with Silva is. Seems as if his ’09 campaign is over – hoping he can contribute in ’10?

TranquilPsychosis on
August 12th, 2009 4:27 pm

Absolutely the last thing Iâ€™d do to replace Miguel Batista is sign Jamie Moyer, even for free. We need to be looking at pieces of the puzzle for 2010 and 2011, not 1996 and 1997.

What about as a coach?

Breadbaker on
August 12th, 2009 4:30 pm

What about as a coach?

A very clear message we got from Zduriencik is they are very, very happy with the entire current coaching staff, particularly Adair and Wetteland.

gloo on
August 12th, 2009 4:31 pm

Gah, a bit off topic, but…

[deleted, off-topic]

Breadbaker on
August 12th, 2009 5:25 pm

[ot]

thefin190 on
August 13th, 2009 12:50 am

I was in the Beer Gardens at the game tonight, and I looked over in the Bullpen, and Batista was sitting by himself the whole time with his head down, or looking over at the people standing on the other side of the fence. I could kind of sense that the feelings are probably mutual between him and Seattle. I am sure at this point, he would rather be sitting at home writing his novels.

I’d say I am with you guys on replacing him with some cheap lefty bullpen arm. I am pretty sure that if the Mariners get closer to contention, Z will take care of Batista.